Alice Pätelpoeg
SCHOOL
INSTAGRAM PROFILE
instagram.com/alicepartelpoeg/
ABOUT ALICE:
My name is Alice and I’m from Estonia. I recently completed my Fashion Design BA degree at the Estonian Academy of Arts. I get most of my inspiration from stories and like to work with different materials.
Previously I have participated in multiple fashion shows. I’ve shown my second year collection ‘DISTANT SOUNDS’ in ERKI Fashion Show (Tallinn), Sustainable Fashion Week Vilnius and Slow Fashion Show Stockholm.
I participated in ERKI this year as well with my graduate collection for which I won the Fashion as Art award and was also invited back to Sustainable Fashion Week Vilnius.
ABOUT ALICE's COLLECTION:
Scarcity - a situation in which something is not easy to find or get. After hours of work, everyone gathers to share a celebratory meal and stories by the fire. The evening ends with a bonfire, where we sing songs and celebrate the rich traditions of the potato harvest.
In my heart I know that this tradition is going to continue if the land is being taken care of properly. The annual harvest isn’t just about potatoes, it’s a celebration of community, hard work, and the simple joy of coming together.
I named my story “OF SCARCITY” because it symbolizes the idea that even the humblest beginnings can lead to remarkable outcomes. Much like a seed buried in the earth, which ultimately sprouts into a thriving plant, this title suggests that beauty, success, and life itself often emerge from the most unlikely or seemingly insignificant origins. It prompts us to appreciate the inherent potential within the most ordinary and unassuming starting points. In the collection as a source of inspiration I have used different harvesting tools and tractor details to preserve the nature of harvesting as a process.
The most important element that I wished to bring to life through interpretations was the tractor tire pattern. I was intrigued in how the traces it left on the mud could be transferred to clothing. The most exciting result was achieved using a certain smocking technique.
In addition, I was fascinated by the round shape of the tire in general, as a result of which, in several sets, when the hands are joined by the palms, the combined effect of the structural sleeve and the round shoulder line creates, as if it were an embossed wheel.
On the other hand, the aspects related to picking as an activity was important to me as well. For example I wanted to make the so-called workwear more functional for the wearer by connecting the sleeves. Another detail that can be seen in the collection are big and deep folds.
For instance, in one of the sets with wide jeans, I have created deep horizontal folds in the front of the pants, where it would be possible to collect the crops.
The same goes for the menskirt and top over the pants, both of which have small pockets hidden between the folds. In addition I made an enormous bag, that works as harvesting container and a garment.
For the materials I used dark blue and light blue denim, viscose and a wool-cotton blend fabric, of which I later dyed with rust from various metal objects. Some of the patterns such as the denim and rust on the viscose blend fabrics, have been applied using digital printing. I also distressed the denim to give it a slightly worn and aged effect. In addition to clothes, I have also created accessories inspired by the harvesting process that is the potato basket.
They are made by braiding fine and coarse wires together and causing them to rust.
